Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away, according to a video statement from the Vatican on Monday. His death marks the end of an often turbulent papacy characterized by division and tension as he endeavored to reform the traditional institution. He was 88 years old and had recently overcome a severe bout of double pneumonia.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared on the Vatican’s TV channel. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
His passing comes just a day after the pope made his first significant public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a 38-day hospital stay due to pneumonia. On Easter Sunday, Francis entered St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile, greeting enthusiastic crowds and offering a special blessing for the first time since Christmas.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, to the surprise of many observers who viewed the Argentine cleric, known for his compassion for the poor, as an outsider. He aimed to bring a sense of simplicity to the papal role, opting not to occupy the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, stating that he preferred a communal living arrangement for his “psychological health.”
Francis inherited a church reeling from a child sex abuse scandal and rife with infighting within the Vatican bureaucracy. He was elected with a clear mandate to restore order. However, as his papacy progressed, he faced significant backlash from conservatives who accused him of undermining cherished traditions. Simultaneously, progressives criticized him for not doing enough to transform the 2,000-year-old institution.
Amidst internal dissent, Francis became a global icon, attracting large crowds during his many international trips while promoting interfaith dialogue and peace and advocating for marginalized communities, such as migrants.
Unique in recent history, two men wearing white occupied the Vatican for much of Francis’ tenure, as his predecessor, Benedict, chose to remain in the Holy See following his shocking resignation in 2013, paving the way for a new pontiff. Benedict, a figure revered by conservatives, passed away in December 2022, leaving Francis as the sole figure in the papal spotlight.
Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will select the next pope, increasing the likelihood that his successor will uphold his progressive policies, despite the considerable resistance from traditionalists.
